Flooding in Nigeria kills at least 28
2012-08-14 13:34
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Jos - Flooding caused by heavy rains in central Nigeria has killed at least 28 people, with many others still missing, while also destroying homes, bridges and farmland, officials said on Tuesday.
"I have counted 28 bodies and many people are still missing after the flood," said Kemi Nshe, local government chairperson for the Shendam district in central Nigeria's Plateau state.
He said about 1 500 people were displaced by the rains, the worst of which occurred on Sunday.
A Red Cross official in the area said relief workers were having difficulties accessing flooded areas, which he said included about five communities. He said heavy rain began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday.
"Flooding has affected close to five [districts], and a lot of bridges have been broken, a lot of people have lost their houses," said Manasseh Panpe.
Last month in another area of Plateau state, heavy rainfall forced a dam to overflow, causing flooding that left at least 35 people dead and destroyed or damaged about 200 homes.
Much of Africa's most populous nation has been affected by heavy seasonal rainfall, and officials have warned more flooding is likely to occur in a number of areas in the coming days.
The rainy season typically runs from March to September.
